Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-25
MEXICO'S CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
The Holiday Habits of the People
Observance Of Pascua.
Interesting and Instructive Ccre-
monics--The Passion For Unique
Gifts - Holiday Gatherings-A
Season of Great Pleasure.
Written for the SinddU Bee.

Written for the Sunday Bee.
When asked what the Christmas GUS
toms of Mexico are, whole flood OF
pleasant remembrances and customs
come trooping over me like u gentle
wind laden with spring, time perfumes,
completely blotting from my vision this
chill northern season which only the
yule-log can cheer and the bitter-sweet
can brighten; transporting with me,
you who care to 60 to that ancient city,
to wonder at her ardent Christmas sun,
and to behold her people celebrate the
birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Several weeks before Pascua Christ
mas, the capital, with the exception Of
the plaza, assumes an elaborate Partisan
toilet, garlanded and caught up, here
and there, with Mexican ornaments and
devices. The abounding stores are
French, confounding the modest pur-
chaser with their stores of costly
wares gathered from far and
wide. Cured and perfumed clerks
handle wonderful Paris dolls which
speak to one of their fathers and
mothers across the water, haunting
their gay toilets in our faces. Costly
bon-bon boxes completely grace one
store, while the bon-bons lay tempt
ingly strewn around them. Plate glass
windows shield from black-eyed sem
oritas with hair advantageously ar
ranged, rare laces and fans, as we'll as
exquisite devices in jewelry, and rather
singular it seems, when these Orna-
ments remain unsold they are shipped
to Egypt, where Il ready sale awaits
them. One store forms
GATHERING BANK OF GOLD
md silver ornaments extending from
the floor to the ceiling, interspersed
with Christmas flowers. Truly this city
is well named the Paris of America
Yet, what one enjoys above all this rich
effect at Christmas tide, is the skillful
work of Mexican peon fingers
in the toys and remember
ances for las pasadas, as we'll as
their heartfelt sympathy in all the
pleasures Of this glad season. Presents
for las pasadas occupy the portals and
plaza, while hawkers of the same pretty
articles carry them through the streets
rending the air with their weird cries.
Mexico does at this time as we'll as at
through the church, whose influence is
mighty and far spread. For two weeks
before Christmas are held nightly las
pasadas, parties in cOmmemoration Of
the birth of Christ. Friends meet at
one another's houses very much us we
gather around the Christmas tree,
where they form a procession in the
decorated court OF the house, march
ing around it and carrying at their head
miniature baby Christ lying on II pile
OF straw in that manger of far-away
Bethlehem: also the Blessed Virgin and
Joseph with the lOwly ass. AS they
march around chanting, they humble
themselves before this stable from
which the bright light of all time bios
somed forth in man child. On COM
pletion of this ceremony, the
hostess presents each guest with
a gift. then mcmber from
out the whole is chosen, blindfolded and
placed beneath II large carthen jar sus-
pended from the ceiling, which is gaily
decorated either with fluttcring colored
papers, or the bright skirts of an huge
paper doll envelopit. This jar should
be overhowing with candies, nuts and
raisins, though so-callcd joke is often
perpetrated upon the expectant guests
in South America rs we'll as in Mexico,
by filling it with undesirable matter.
The blindfolded guest must with stick
strike Mt the ar,midst convulsive laugh
ter from the fair sex until he finally hits
and breaks it,allowing the sweets to fall
in II sudden shower among the laughing,
scrambling guests. Dancing closes these
evenings OF
FESTIVITIES At MIDNIGHT
until the night before Christmas arrives,
when they dance broad daylight in.
Valuable presents are often exchanged
during the pasadas, though New Years
is the acknowledged day for the pleas
ant Interchange of rcmembrances.
The great center OF attraction Mt this
time is the Plaza Mayor, which on two
sides is skirted by double row OF
rudely constructed booths, facing each
other, with passage between for pur-
chnsers. These booths are attractive
in their decorations Of national colored
papers, MANY possessing a little room in
the rear where the Indian family live
during the busy weeks, skillfully manu-
featuring with deft fingers, dolls and
toys-toys which so often pertain to the
birth OF Christ, such rs stahies of wax
with the infant Savior in the arms OF
Mary, Josephs without end OF benign
expression, Hooks Of snowy sheep led by
the Good Shepherd, aud all of the
apostles in goodly array. Peace
seems 10 breathe from these rude
booths. The murmur and hum OF the
surrounding capital is here broken by
the babble Of a gesticulating, excitable
people, and by the shouts of gaudily at
tired toy vendors and lottery ticket
sellers, tho latter causing to lose